Screen shot of the 2010 Honor Roll of Donors, the online replacement of the annual Advancement ReportExplore it now

Each year, many alumni, parents, and friends chose to contribute financially to Macalester, helping the college be agile in meeting the educational needs of students. To recognize the 11,246 donors who gave in fiscal year 2010, which ended May 31, the college released its new online Honor Roll of Donors this month. When you visit the honor roll, you can:

Watch video messages from President Brian Rosenberg, students, and faculty

Learn more about the impact of your gifts

Find yourself in the Honor Roll

Look up classmates

Cheer a friend — say "thank you" to others for giving

Share your reasons for giving to Macalester and read why others give

In past years the college mailed a printed copy of this report on giving. By moving the donor honor roll online the college is saving money, paper, and energy, putting more of your financial gifts to work for students and faculty.
· Visit the 2010 Honor Roll of Donors

If you have questions or encounter any problems accessing our Honor Roll of Donors, please contact Deb Chaulk, director of Donor Relations, at donorrelations@macalester.edu.

Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion to begin in January

An architectural rendering of the Arts Commons, which will be built as part of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion project.

Funding and Board of Trustees approval has been secured to move forward with the first phase of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion project. Construction is to begin in January 2011; a campus celebration of the project will be held on Monday, Nov. 15.

The college has raised $16.5 million towards a $24 million fundraising goal for the project. "We absolutely could not do this project without the generosity of alumni and friends of the college," said President Rosenberg. "Our ability to move forward at a time when many colleges across the country are pulling back on capital projects will give our community a distinct advantage in attracting talented artists — both students and faculty."
· Read the press release
· View architectural renderings and learn how you can support the project

Paul Farmer, the founder of the international health and social justice nonprofit Partners in Health, delivered this year's opening convocation on Sept. 14 to a standing-room only audience in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom of Kagin Commons.

Kao Kalia Yang's book The Latehomecomer was chosen as this year's common reading for first-year students and the broader Macalester community. She spoke on campus on Sept. 23.

In her talk, she described the paths she took to write her book, her deep and profound connections to her family, and her thoughts on being the first Hmong author to publish a book about Hmong people. While on campus, she was interviewed by Macalester student Collin Calvert '13, who later wrote on the student blog The Orange,"...From meeting her, from speaking with her, I feel that I've changed, that I finally know what the opportunity is that college, that Macalester, presents us. It allows us to open our heart, to risk ourselves, in order to grow."
· Watch Kao Kalia Yang's talk on YouTube
· Watch Calvert's interview with the author

President Rosenberg and Provost Kathleen Murray named Professor Karine Moe as the F.R. Bigelow Endowed Chair in Economics and Professor Lin Aanonsen to the O.T. Walter Endowed Professorship in Biology. Both of these endowed professorships were established in the 1960s.

Mansco Perry III will be Macalester's Chief Investment Officer starting November 1. As CIO, Perry will oversee the college's $587 million endowment, which ranks 14th among U.S. liberal arts colleges. The endowment supports financial aid for students, and academic and co-curricular programs, among other college priorities.

"We're delighted to welcome Mansco to Macalester," said President Rosenberg. "He brings broad and deep experience in investment management and is passionate about the liberal arts. He'll be a great fit and wonderful addition to our team."

Since 2008, Perry has been the CIO for the Maryland State Retirement Agency, where he oversaw a $33 billion pension plan portfolio. Macalester's current CIO, Craig Aase '70, announced his plans to retire last spring.
· More about Mansco Perry III

A pair of Macalester golfers played to All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) status Oct. 2-4 at the conference tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. Nick Santrach '11 placed fifth in the men's competition with a score of 222 on rounds of 74, 72, and 76, and in the women's tournament, Grace Caird '13 finished in ninth place on rounds of 87, 84, and 85 for a 54-hole tally of 256.
· Read more Mac Athletics news

Building upon the success of last year's job shadowing program, the Career Exploreship program for Macalester sophomores expands to include the D.C. and Twin Cities metro areas in January 2011.

Alumni living in these regions are invited to offer a Macalester sophomore one of the following career experiences: an extended informational interview, a full day of shadowing, two to three days of shadowing, a week-long job shadowing experience, or a three-week formal academic internship. Sophomores will be matched up with job shadowing opportunities later this fall.

MaryBeth Grewe '10 won the Sylvia Forman Prize from the Association for Feminist Anthropology, a section of the American Anthropological Association, for best undergraduate paper. For winning the award, Grewe will receive $500 and a summary of her paper will be published in Anthropology News.

Grewe's paper, "Keeping the Mother in Maternal and Child Health: Infant Feeding Policy, Child Malnutrition, and Maternal Experience in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," drew on work she conducted during a study abroad program. She developed the paper in her Anthropology Senior Capstone Seminar led by Professor Dianna Shandy.

"I'm most delighted that MaryBeth Grewe has received this award," said Shandy. "The research she conducted in South Africa about mothers and breastfeeding was top rate. She worked really hard on this project and deserved to be recognized."
· More about Grewe and her award

Do you enjoy planning events, networking with alumni, and connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities? Then you may want to apply to be Associate Director of Alumni Relations at Macalester. Applications are due October 18.
· View job description and apply

The M Club will induct five new members to its athletic Hall of Fame at its annual dinner on Saturday, October 16. The 2010 M Club Hall of Fame class is made up of Adam Burke '92 (swimming), Mark Abboud '92 (soccer), and sisters Nikki Epperson '96 (soccer/basketball), Brook Epperson '98 (soccer/basketball), and Tawni Epperson '99 (soccer).

The Macbassador of the month for October is Melvin Collins '75. Melvin has volunteered for every opportunity on campus from serving as a host family for Macalester students of color to hosting first-year dinners, from serving on the Alumni Board to serving on the Board of Trustees. He is known in some circles as "Mr. Macalester." He was a 2007 Alumni Award recipient and continues to be a steadfast Macalester volunteer in activities that directly make a difference in the lives of Macalester students.

One example of his work for the college is his participation in last year's pilot run of the new Career Exploreship program that connects Macalester sophomores with alumni for job shadowing opportunities. Melvin hosted a psychology major at Securian Financial and said of the experience, "I really enjoyed spending time with Igor and learning more about him, his interests and aspirations. He was very engaging and came prepared with good questions. We plan to meet again."